The Special Edition underlines the race-bred heritage and follows a first year success for the award-winning Multistrada 1200.

The Pikes Peak Special Edition is dressed in a replica Ducati Corse-style paint scheme with passenger footpeg hangers and engine guard anodized in black and sport red pinstriping on the wheels.

Furthermore, there is a Ducati Performance carbon fiber front mudguard and race-derived low screen as well as a custom-made seat with red stitching to complete the specification worthy of a race-winning replica.

Each Pikes Peak Special Edition sold in North America will come with a numbered badge on the crankcase cover, denoting the individuality of the motorcycle.

In certain markets, the Pikes Peak Special Edition will be sold with an approved Ducati Performance carbon fiber silencer by Termignoni. However, North America customers don't appear to qualify for homologation reasons.

Winning the challenging, multi-surface Pikes Peak race, which climbs a mountain track through 4865ft of altitude change, further underlined the all-terrains versatility of the Multistrada by demonstrating how its four different Riding Modes adapt the motorcycle to any environment.

Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro Riding Modes are selectable by the click of a button, instantly transforming the Multistrada's suspension, power output and traction control settings - a feature Greg Tracy will again use in 2011.

In conjunction with the launch of this new model, Ducati is pleased to announce its entry in the 2011 Pikes Peak event, featuring last year's winning line-up of Greg Tracy and Alexander Smith.

Preparations are already underway for the title defense in June, when Ducati will be fighting for the fastest time up the mountain.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, or "Race to the Clouds", is situated in a range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs. The 12.4-mile race starts at 9390ft above sea level and the finish line is at 14100ft.